Captive-bred frogs take back Mount Buffalo habitat

ENDANGERED frogs that returned to their mountain home almost 30 years after going extinct at the site look to have re-established at their former stronghold.

Released into the streams of Mount Buffalo National Park in February as part of a national recovery program, the captive-bred frogs appear to have survived floods and predators.

And after revisiting the site this week to check on their charges, Department of Sustainability and Environment researchers are now hoping the coming breeding season will re-establish the frogs in the park.

Many of the 260 released frogs were found to be in breeding condition - males were detected actively calling and females were egg-bound.

Senior biodiversity officer Glen Johnson said this raised the prospect of a productive breeding season, with any laid eggs due to hatch soon.

''Any young frogs found there represent the next generation, as this species of frog has been extinct [at Mount Buffalo] for a while.''

The endangered species disappeared from Mount Buffalo in 1983. While researchers are not certain why, it is thought the deadly chytrid fungus played a part.

A water-borne disease, chytrid fungus attacks the keratin in the animal's skin cells. Because frogs breathe through their skin, infected frogs die from asphyxiation.

Mr Johnson said while the release site was cleared of chytrid fungus as much as possible, another frog species in the area had been found to carry it. ''We're hoping that we might have some individuals which will be able to cope,'' he said of the released frogs. ''Because the founders of this population came from downstream where chytrid fungus was present so they may have a resistance to it.''

Spotted tree frogs are found in Victoria and Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales, but their distribution is rapidly shrinking: there are fewer than 4000 in the wild, spread over 12 isolated populations.

Mr Johnson said if the Mount Buffalo release worked, it could be replicated in other locations where the spotted tree frog is struggling.

''This is part of a national approach and if it works, it can be applied elsewhere,'' he said.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/captivebred-frogs-take-back-mount-buffalo-habitat-20121218-2bl3r.html